Deputy Minority Leader Returns GH¢70,000 Gift Linked to Supreme Court Vetting
Asokwa MP Patricia Appiagyei cites concerns over the source of the funds and says she does not want to personally benefit from the Supreme Court vetting process.
- Appiagyei Returns GH¢70,000
- Questions Source of Funds
- Minority Maintains Vetting Boycott
Deputy Minority Leader and Asokwa MP Patricia Appiagyei has returned GH¢70,000 sent to her by the Majority Chief Whip, citing concerns over the source of the money and her unwillingness to personally benefit from the parliamentary vetting process.
Mrs Appiagyei said she was uncomfortable accepting the funds because she had not been informed about their source.
In a memorandum dated September 2 and addressed to Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh, with Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin copied, she instructed that the money be returned to the Majority Chief Whip.
Mrs Appiagyei explained that her decision was also in line with the Minority Caucus’ position on the vetting of three Supreme Court nominees.
She said she did not want to receive any financial benefit connected to the vetting of Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Deputy Majority Leader Zanetor Agyemang Rawlings.
“It is with regret that I return the amount of seventy thousand cedis (GH¢70,000.00) allocated to me as an advance of money from the Majority Chief Whip of Parliament of Ghana,” she stated.
She added that she was returning the money primarily because she did not know its source.
Mrs Appiagyei also reaffirmed her support for the Minority Caucus’ position and noted that her decision mirrored that of Mr Afenyo-Markin, who had earlier returned money allocated to him.
The development comes amid the Minority Caucus’ boycott of the vetting of three Supreme Court nominees following objections to the procedure adopted by Parliament’s Appointments Committee.
The nominees are Justice Sophia Rosetta Oduokuwa Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante and Justice Anthony Forson Jnr.
Minority members walked out of the committee proceedings on August 27, citing inadequate notice for the vetting.
Mr Afenyo-Markin had earlier criticised the procedure, arguing that the committee had departed from established parliamentary practice.
He maintained that nominees should be given adequate notice before vetting and questioned the decision to proceed with only three days’ notice instead of the 14 days he said was standard practice.
The Minority Leader stressed that the Caucus’ objection was directed at the procedure and not the nominees themselves.
Mrs Appiagyei’s decision to return the GH¢70,000 further underscores the Minority Caucus’ position on the ongoing parliamentary process, with the MP citing both concerns over the source of the funds and her decision not to personally benefit from the vetting exercise.
